The Up Devotional

Rest is important. But don’t take my word for it. God says as much in Exodus 20:9-10: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God.” We all most likely agree that rest is important. But it’s making it happen that is […]

Author Philip Yancey tells of a life-changing experience he had while visiting Russia in 1991—a country then in a free-fall.  Much has changed in Russia since that time, but Yancey comments on how there was a lack of trust in the air, a sense of forebodance about pretty much everything. Grown adults walked around with […]

It is sometimes emphasized that the command to honour your father and mother isn’t just about biology. Since Jesus’ followers thought of themselves as family and called one another “brothers and sisters,” they also tried to honour older men and women as fathers and mothers, especially those who didn’t have someone younger to help them. […]

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). In today’s society many people think that old equals bad and new equals good. We have a tendency to dismiss older ideas and even people—simply because they are older. We have […]

In Exodus 16 we learn about a group of ex-slaves whom God had led out of Egypt. They needed nourishment. So he provided them with manna, a bready source of food. Each day he would deliver just enough for that day. Since he wanted them to rest on the seventh day he would provide double […]

Last week I sent a note to the congregation I pastor. It was about being deliberate about our attitude on Sunday mornings. It’s so easy to forget what (and who) worship is all about. All of us are influenced by the prevailing individualism and consumerism of our time. What mindset do we have as we […]

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). Rest is an act of war against the powers of chaos. That’s a pretty strong statement. Perhaps some of you think it’s too much. Or, perhaps, just maybe, it’s right on the money? Life can get crazy. So can the world. Rest isn’t optional for […]

There was a famous da Vinci painting, Salvador Mundi. It was a depiction of Jesus. There was a time when it needed to be restored. So a professional was contacted. She was very careful and knew what she was doing. The restoration was a success. There’s a longer, fascinating story about all of this, but […]

God wants good things for us. One of the evidences of his love is the fourth commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). It’s a matter of health and well-being—not just spiritually, but physically and mentally. For a lot of people, dedicating time to find rest is difficult. I understand that. […]

I’ve heard an expression a few different times. Perhaps you have too. Here it is: “Out of one hundred people, one will read the Bible, and ninety-nine will read the person reading the Bible.” It’s a way of saying that the lifestyle of a Christian is on display for everyone to see. That’s how others […]

When it comes to the Bible, there is often more going on than what first meets the eye. This is certainly true with the third commandment: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:7, ESV) Another much-neglected dimension of this commandment is what we could call ‘hypocritical use.’ […]

Let’s take a quick look at a much-neglected aspect of the third commandment which says: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:7, ESV) It has to do with the word “take.” In Hebrew it’s the word “nasa’.” It means to take, to bear, or to carry. It’s […]

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7, ESV). Let’s be honest. Attitudes have radically changed about how we use God’s name. Up until recently it was actually illegal in England to misuse God’s […]

James H. Taylor was the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Washington. There was a time when he was at a party with a lot of big wigs, including the British Ambassador. “It is an honour,” he said, “to meet the ambassador of so great a king.” Knowing Taylor was a pastor, the ambassador replied, […]

“You shall not bow down to [idols] or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:5) Some people are surprised when they learn that God can be “jealous.” However, it makes perfect sense. God chooses to use words that we can understand. “Jealous” is certainly one of those words. […]

In yesterday’s devotional I highlighted two questions from Tim Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods.** Today I’m going to highlight two more. They are designed to help us think about our ultimate commitments. Is God number one in our lives, or have we let something or someone else compete for the throne that only belongs to him? […]

In Exodus 20:3-4 God says: “you shall have no other gods before me.” Makes sense. After all, he is our Creator and Redeemer. He goes on to say: “You shall not make for yourself an idol…” No problem. Back in Egypt and Canaan, people crafted idols, usually out of wood or stone. They represented the […]

The first commandment is well known: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). It’s about putting God first. But we easily miss something else that is very important. It’s connected to the word “gods.” Let’s be honest. That word can make many of us uncomfortable. We know there is only one true […]

Blaise Pascal was a well-known mathematician. He said: “There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of every person.” He wasn’t talking about a physical hole, of course, but an existential one. We have a deep, inner yearning for God. We will never find true rest until we make that connection with God. But here’s […]

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). Andy used to have conversations with Agnes in the laundromat. They would talk about a bunch of different things. It would often come up that she kept the 10 Commandments. It was basically her way of shutting down the conversation. […]

“They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God” (Exodus 19:2-3). The mountain in question is Mount Sinai. It’s where God gave the 10 Commandments to the people through Moses. The traditional location of […]

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalm 82:3). As discussed in yesterday’s devotional, many modern people think the 10 Commandments are random. They also think of them as restrictive rules that are designed to make life worse. But when you look closely at the […]

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love…” (John 15:10) I can’t overstate the global influence of the 10 Commandments. They have shaped not only individuals, but entire societies.  To a lot of people, however, they seem random. But they’re not. Amongst other things, they actually reflect God’s character.  For example, we […]

John F. Kennedy was an American President in the early 1960’s. That office is considered by many to be the most powerful in the world.  Apparently, when JFK was having important meetings at the White House, his son would sometimes wander in. John-John (as he was called) would walk over to his dad and sit […]

It’s hard to deal with change. Depending on what it is, it can make you feel like you’re standing on quicksand. It can make you lose sleep or worry about the future. It can disrupt your sense of stability. That’s why I’d like you to consider Mark 13:31. It’s one of my favourite Bible verses. […]